11 arrested in Flagler, St. Johns counties sting operation

Thursday

Sep 12, 2013 at 6:50 PMSep 12, 2013 at 10:26 PM

A Bunnell man, along with 10 others from Flagler and St. Johns County, was arrested Thursday at the conclusion of a seven-month investigation that included the confiscation of 370 pounds of materials used to make synthetic marijuana, law enforcement officials said.

By Julie Murphyjulie.murphy@news-jrnl.com

BUNNELL — A Bunnell man, along with 10 others from Flagler and St. Johns County, was arrested Thursday at the conclusion of a seven-month investigation that included the confiscation of 370 pounds of materials used to make synthetic marijuana, law enforcement officials said. Carlos Fernando Ramos Dasilva, 42, who lives on County Road 304, is charged with racketeering and conspiracy under the RICO Act, felony delivery of drug paraphernalia, sale of a controlled substance, and leasing and maintaining a location for the manufacture of a controlled substance.The investigation was launched by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and expanded once it was discovered that the targeted crime organization was tied to manufacturing and distribution of synthetic marijuana, Flagler County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Bob Weber said in a written statement. Search warrants were served during the operation, dubbed “Bad Dreamer,” in the two counties, netting 1,400 packets of product ready for sale and distribution under the name “Spice.” Additionally, 320 pounds of raw product was seized, 50 pounds of product ready for packaging, 160,000 empty packets for distribution, a kilogram of the pure synthetic drug, $70,000 cash and 10,000 “units” of untaxed tobacco, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agent supervisor Travis Smith during a press conference at the Flagler Sheriff's Office. “The colorful packaging masks the dark side of the drug,” Sheriff Jim Manfre said. “It is paralyzing the youth of today.” While the manufacture of the substance is typically said to occur within “labs,” Flagler Undersheriff Rick Staly said the drug, a controlled substance, is being made in residential buildings. “If all of those empty packages were filled and sold, the street value would be $4 million,” he said Thursday. St. Johns County Undersheriff Joel Bolante said “synthetic marijuana” is a misnomer as the physical effects are nothing like marijuana. “I've never seen anyone who has used marijuana behave this way,” he said. “It's more like PCP. Behavior becomes abnormal, violent.”Others arrested, typically on multiple charges of the same offense, include: Mark Hayley Dickenson, 50, St. Augustine, who State Attorney R.J. Larizza said could face life in prison if convicted on all the charges of continuing criminal enterprise, RICO, conspiracy to commit RICO, sale of a controlled substance, sale of felony drug paraphernalia, leasing and maintaining a location for manufacturing of a controlled substance, no tobacco distributors license, tobacco tax evasion, and sale of smoking pipes without a permit;Kellie Ann Barnette, 42, St. Augustine, RICO, conspiracy to commit RICO, sale of a controlled substance, sale of felony drug paraphernalia; Alexis Perez, 48, Jacksonville, RICO, Conspiracy to commit RICO, sale of a controlled substance; Samantha Rennee Davis, 32, Dothan, Ala., RICO, conspiracy to commit RICO, sale of a controlled substance, sale of felony drug paraphernalia;Robert Clark Nicholson, 23, sale of a controlled substance, and felony delivery of drug paraphernalia;Edward Robert Mims, 55, St. Johns Park, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;John Abdal, 38, St. Augustine, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance; Martha Ellen Welzant, 51, St. Augustine, sale of a controlled substance, sale of an imitation controlled substance, felony delivery of drug paraphernalia;Ajay D. Patel, 47, St. Augustine, sale of a controlled substance; Sheetal Ajay Patel, 39, St. Augustine, sale of a controlled substance.Investigators said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests and seizures are likely.